Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons)

Course overview

This course is aimed at those with little or no experience of the sector but with a strong vocation to work to improve the capacity and capability of those at risk and supporting organisations.

• Disaster and emergency management professionals play a critical role in lessening the impact of human, technological and environmental catastrophes. Professionals work with numerous partners to quickly and accurately assess situations and communities affected, advising on all aspects of response and recovery, as well as future prevention or management strategies.
• Multi-disciplinary in nature, this course draws on aspects of technology, physical science, engineering, sociology and human geography.
• We place considerable emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills – from table-top or virtual emergency response scenarios, to laboratory exercises and field-based management of disaster, both in the UK and overseas through two mandatory international field trip modules² (see Fees and Funding section for more details).
• This course is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge to identify, critically analyse, assess, respond to and recover from, a growing range of crisis, emergency and disaster situations and to operate confidently in practitioner, policy and management sectors.

Why you should study this course

We work collaboratively with agencies across a variety of sectors (subject to availability) to develop exciting practical emergency and disaster simulation exercises in our unique Simulation Centre⁴ and our classrooms. These exercises and other interactive sessions form a major part of the teaching and learning, with sessions running in every year of the course in this manner.

• Course features can include guest lectures (subject to availability), site visits and field trip practical activities in the UK and internationally, offering you the chance to witness disaster risks and reduction measures in a range of contexts, from a variety of organisations who are undertaking this work in the field².
• Have an opportunity to participate in or design an emergency exercise in the university’s Simulation Centre⁴.
• Participate in a variety interactive classroom sessions².
• Undertake fieldwork to better understand the risks and challenges faced by communities and disaster and emergency responders in the face of a range of natural and anthropogenic risk situations².
• Be supported by a scheduled series of academic personal tutorials.
• Be supported to develop your employability and self-marketing skills.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

• critically analyse a range of historical events, conceptual perspectives, models of and factors which, influence hazard, vulnerability and risk. Apply these and related terms appropriately in various disaster, emergency and crisis-related contexts
• analyse the benefits and limitations of a range of approaches to risk assessment and utilise them appropriately
• evaluate the benefits and challenges of implementing effective risk mitigation
• critique approaches to managing residual risks via preparedness systems and emergency planning, and propose good practice approaches
• assess the need for organisational resilience and good governance in effective disaster, emergency and crisis management
• evaluate and apply community-centred frameworks for resilience, sustainability and development
• have the ability to work effectively with others within the context of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams, respecting inputs from fellow professionals, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, and to reflect on one's own performance and role within the team
• develop and apply technical and analytical skills, to develop practical solutions to challenges faced in disaster and development contexts
• become an independent learner, demonstrating high level communication, ethics, research and evaluation skills.

Our blend of academic and practical study seeks to provide you with a specialist understanding of all aspects of disaster management, as well as the specific emergency planning and management skills needed to prepare you for employment in this sector.

The course aims to develop your skills in problem-solving, teamwork and leadership, project management and communication, all of which are qualities employers demand. We strive to produce graduates who can demonstrate the capabilities required by international relief and development organisations, private sector consultancies, national government, local authorities and United Nations agencies operating around the world; namely, the ability to make difficult decisions whilst being culturally sensitive, ethical and compassionate.